Thistle eradicator



0. MURK.

THiSTL-E ERADICATO-R.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-21,1922.

PatentedSept. 19, 1922.

2 SHEETSSHEET l v m I v Patefited Sept 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- Patented Sept. 19, 1922.

UNITED STATES aeaaaea earner earns.

OLOF MURK, OF WARREN, MINNESOTA.

THISTLE ERADICATOR.

Application fiIed January 27, 1922. Serial No. 532,214.

of which the following is aspecification, reference being hadtherein to the accompanying drawings;

This invention relates to. a thistle eradi-' cator, and the object of the invention is the production of a comparatively simple and eflicient machine for the eradicating, killing or destroying of obnoxious weeds and grass.

Another object of the invention is the improvement of my former invention, disclosed in my prior United States Patent, No. 944,900, patented December 28, 1909.

With these and other objects in view, my invention comprises certain novel combinations, constructions and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the. drawings:

-Figure 1 is a top plan view of my ma chine. I

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation'of the machine. 1 Y

.Figure 3 is a vertical, longitudinal, sec; tional view of the machine.

Figure 4 is an inverted, fragmentary plan view of the machine.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the knife device.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the chain hook device.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, 1 designates the main frame, to the forward end of which is pivotally mounted, by bolt 2, the angle frame 3. To the rear face of frame 3 is attached, by plates 4, the front crank axle' 5. Wheels 6 are journalled upon the ends of this axle. 7 is integral with the central portion of front axle 5, and a chain 8 is attached, at its upper or outer end, to handle 7.

A chain hook device 9 is provided for. holding the chain in a fixed position and thereby retaining handle 7 in an adjusted position; this hook device 9 includes transverse bar 10 fastened to the frame 1, and a bifurcated hook 11, provided with a horizontal base 12, is fastened to the top of the A handle bar 10. The chain 8 is positioned in the bifurcated portion of hook 11' and is held 1n a fixed position until the operator releases the chain by pulling outwardly thereon. V l

The front axle 5 can be tilted to allow the frame 1 to be placed near to the ground, by swinging handle 7, and retaining the handle in araised or lowered condition by hooking the chain in the hook 11.

An additional retaining device is provided for holding the wheels 6 in their lowest position; thisretaining device comprises bracket 13 secured at one side to the frame, and a rod 14 provided'with an eye 15 is mounted in the bracket 13. The rod 14 is adapted to be placed across the handle 7 (Fig. 3), and one end is'placed in the primary hook 16, and then the auxiliary hook 17 (pivoted at 18 upon the primary hook 16) is swung down over the rod 14 securely fastening the rod in position and thereby holding the handle 7 in its lowest position.

The rear crank axle 19 is secured to the under-face'offrame 1, and a rear handle 21 is integrally secured to the axle 19.

Handle 21 is positioned between two angle plates 22; these angle plates are fastened to the frame, and are provided with registering apertures 23, through which pin 24 extends behind handle 21 (Fig. 1) for holding the rear wheels 25 close to the frame 1, for permitting the frame 1 to be positioned close to the ground or surface over which the machine is passing. The pin 24 is provided with a hooked end '26 that extends downbetween the plates 22 until the operator springs up the hooked end 26 to release the pin from the plates the outer end of the hooked end extending down between the plates, prevents accidental displacement of the pin. By placing the pin 24 in front of the handle 21, as shown in'Fig. 2, the handle can be held in more of a vertical position, thereby causingthe rear axle 19 tobe swung to place its ends further downwardly' with respect to frame 1, and when the handle 21 has been swung rearwardly, with the pin 24 in the last set of apertures 23, the wheels will be in their lowest position with respect to framel, said frame also being placed further away from the ground to cause the knife device 27 to be held out of the ground as when not in operation.

The knife device comprises a main, V-

shaped blade 28 that slightly slants, and integral with V-shaped blade 28 is inclined front blade or knife 29, and integral with the \/-shaped blade 28, near its rear ends, are inclined blades or knives each blade or knife 29 and 30 is provided at its upper end with a right-angularpositioned, apertured extension 31. The extensions 31 engage frame 1 and are attached thereto by ordinary fastening means, such as rivets, or the like. Braces 32 are fastened to the frame, at 33 and 34, Fig. at, and are fastened to the blades or knives 29 and 30, at 35.

It is to be noted that the frame 1 is in one piece and that the knife device 27 is also in one piece.

A. tongue structure 36 is attached in a suitable manner to the front angle frame 3, and a seat 37 is carried by the frame 1.

A marker device 38 is pivotally mounted, at 39, upon extensions 10, fastened to the frame 1.

In operation the axles 5 and 19 are adj usted through the medium of the front handle 7 and the rear handle 21 for causing the frame 1 to move downwardly so as to place i the knife device 27 in position to cut through the ground the desired depth, detern'xined by the operator of the machine. The knife will cut through the ground and will cut off the weeds or grass that is to be destroyed, leaving a loose blanket of earth over the roots of the cut'weeds or grass, and this blanket of loose dirt will eventually cause the roots to be smothered, and consequently, die.

l/Vhile I have described the preferred embodiment of my invention, and have illustrated the same in the accompanying drawings, certain minor changes or alterations may appear to one skilled in the art to which this invention relates, during the extensive manufacture of the same and I, therefore, reserve the right to make such alterations or changes as shall fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is: Y

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a single-piece main frame, a knife device secured to said main frame within its side edges, and axlesprovided with wheels supporting said main frame.

2. In a machine of the class described, the

combination with a main frame, or an adjustable axle provided with a handle and with wheels supporting said main frame, a pair of angle plates fastened upon said main frame, said handle extending between said angle plates, said angle plates provided with registering apertures, a pin in some of said registering apertures and engaging said handle, said pin provided with a hooked end having a portion of the hook normally lying between said angle plates, and cutting means supported upon the main frame.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a main frame, a pair of plates spaced apart and carried by said main frame, a handle positioned between said plates, an axle provided with wheels connected to said handle, means on said plates for holding said handle in different adjusted positions, and cutting means carried by said main frame.

4. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a main frame, of, an adjustable. axle provided with a handle supporting said main frame, achain hook device supported upon said main frame, said chain hook device comprising a bifurcated hook provided with a horizontal base, a chain attached to said handle and adapted to be positioned in the bifurcated hook of said hook device for holding the handle in an adjusted position upon the main frame, and cutting means carried by the main frame. v

. 5. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a main frame, of an adjustable axle provided with a handle supporting said main frame, a bracket. secured to the main frame, a rod provided with an eye extending through said bracket and adapted to engage said handle, a primary hook carried by the main frame, said rod fitting into said primary hook, an auxiliary hook pivotally mounted on the primary hook and adapted to fold over the rod for securely fastening the same within the primary hook, and. cutting. meanssupported upon the main frame.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a main frame, of an axle provided with a handle supporting the main frame, abracket on said main frame, a rod pivotally mounted in said bracket and adapted to extend across and engage said handle, a two-part hook device on said frame and adapted to engage and hold the rod against the handle, and ,cutting means carried by said main frame.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

oLor Mean. 

